Evaluation of interfacial properties between carbon fibres and semicrystalline thermoplastic matrices in single-fibre composites

The interfacial properties between pitch-based carbon fibre and semicrystalline thermoplastic matrices have been investigated by using the fragmentation test on single-fibre composites. For this purpose, fibres with seven different degrees of surface oxidation were prepared. From the fragmentation test, it was found that oxidization of carbon fibre reduces the fibre fragment length. Further, the length is also influenced by the nature of resin used as matrix. The morphology of crystallites formed on the fibres has been studied. Based on these results, the interfacial properties of carbon fibre and thermoplastic resins are discussed.